Mechanical ballot and ballot-holder



- (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

l K. DeUeAN. MECHANICAL BALLOT AND BALLOT HOLDER.

1Y0/440,54?. Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

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(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

K. DOUGAN. MECHANICAL BALLOT AND. BALLOT HOLDER.

No. 440,547. y Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

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L u u u U Wz'fne 33 ve s: Y Inv 674/?071' UNITED STATES VPATENT OFFICE.

KENNEDY DOUGAN, OF MISSOULA, MONTANA.

MECHANICAL BALLOT AND BALLOT-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,547', datedNovember 11, 1890.

Application filed January 9, 1890. Serial Nol 336,372. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, KENNEDY DOUGAN, of Missoula, in the county ofMissoula and State of Montana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovement-s in Mechanical Ballots and Ballot-Holders; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in mechanical ballots andballot-holders; and its object is to provide a mechanical ballot whichis provided with endwisemoving plates, rods, or slides, which are movedendwise by means of direct power applied thereto in any suitable manner,and which slides, rods, or plat-es correspond in number to the greatestnumber of candidates to be voted for, and which ballot may either bepurely amechanical one to be mechanically registered in a suitableinachine prepared therefor, or which may also, While being a mechanicalballot-holder, contain a paper ballot, which can be used afterward toverify the count of the vote-recordin g machine.

Figure l is a plan View of a ballot which embodies my invention, partsbeing shown in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same.Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing the ballot open. Fig. i is adetail view of one of the catches for holding the plates, rods, orslides in position whether forced in or out. Fig. 5 is a verticalsection of a machine in which the votes are registered.

A represents a suitable frame, which may be made of either metal orwood, and which is provided with a handle B at one end. This frame A isdivided into two parts, the lowerl one C being secured rigidly to thehandle B and having no movement of its own, while the upper one D ishinged to the'handle at its inner end and can be opened or closed, so asto receive paper ballots, should it be desired to use them in connectionwith this mechanical ballot for the purpose of verifying the count ofthe mechanical vote-registering machine. This lower portion of theballot or frame C is made just sutliciently deep to receive a paper orother ballot, which will be held in position so that it can have nomovement whatever after the upper portion D is closed down upon it. Ifit is not desired to use a paper or other ballot in connection with thismechanical one, the upper portion D will be closed and kept so, as therewill be no necessit-y for moving it.

Upon the top of the upper portion D will be marked, printed, written, 0rpainted the names of the different candidates to be voted for, and undereach name there is formed a recess in the under side of the top portionD to receive an endwise-moving plate, slide, or rod F, which is onlyintended to be moved in either direction when direct pressure is appliedto one of its ends for that purpose. 0 pposite either the outer or innerend of each of these plates, slides, or rods is an opening G, throughwhich the tapering needle, rod, or other device H is to be forced whenthe plate or slide under or opposite the name of the candidate to bevoted for is to be moved. As shown, the outer end of each of the platesor slides F is beveled and rounded or notched out above and below, so asto allow the point of the needle or punch H to pass freely down or uppast it, as shown in Fig. 2. As the punch is forced down or up throughthe plate, a plate or slide F is forced backward into the position shownin Fig. 2, where the plate or slide is automatically locked, so as toprevent any possibility of the vote being tampered with. If a paperballot is placed inside of the mechanical ballot, it will be perforatedeach time the needle is forced through one of the perforations G. It isimmaterial whether these perforations are arranged at the out-er orinner ends of the slides or plates, for this is a mere matter of choice.

Pivoted in the upper portion atany suitable points are the twolocking-plates I, which have springs J applied to their outer free edgesfor the purpose of holding these plates Iforccd downward, so as to beready to lock the plates or slides F either in or out. In the under sideof each of the plates I is formed a groove K, which extends from one endof the plate to the other and in which groove catch the notched edges ofthe plates, slides, or rods F for the purpose of locking them inposition after they have been moved end- IOO wise. The innersurfaceofthe plate I is beveled away from each edge of the groove II, as shownin Fig. 2, so that the notched ends of the slide or plates F and theoperating-rods L will raise the plates I against the pressure of thesprings J, which are preferably applied to opposite ends. As each plateor slide F is forced backward by means of the needle or punch H, itsinner end raises the lockingplate I until it slips into the groove K,and then the plate I holds the plate or slide F, so that it cannot betampered with from the outside. Placed in or upon this top portion D arethe two rods L, which are loosely connected to the upper portion D bymeans of the links N, as shown. These rods L have through the links Nboth an endwise and a forward and backward movement for the purpose ofbeing moved toward or away from the ends of the slides or plates F. Therods L can only be moved back by the slides F, which are forced againstthem by the perforating-instrument lvl in its passage through theballot, and rods L can only be moved out against the inner ends of theslides F by the projection Q, which is automatically locked in theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. l by the spring-catch Q in Figs.l and 2, and is unlocked before being placed in the vote-recordingmachine by the person operating it.

The object of automatically locking the projection Q is to prevent avoter with fraudulent or mischievous intent from operating it to throwthe slides F forward so as to conceal perforations made in the paperballot. Tere this projection Q not locked,a voter could perforate thepaper ballot and then throw the slides F over the perforations, so thatthe votereeording machine would record no Votes on that ballot, thuscausing the paper ballots, if counted after the closing of the polls, toshow more votes than would be shown by the recording-machine.

When the judge or inspector of election unlocks the projection Q, therods L can be moved outward so as to return all of the plates or slidesF which have been moved back to theirnormalposition. Each one of theserods L is provided with a projection O,and placed inside of the upperportion D is a plate or slide P, which is provided with a projection Q,which extends any suitable distance above the top of the part D so as toengage with and be operated by the catch R in Fig. 5, of any suitablekind, placed inside of the voterecording machine for the purpose ofmoving the slide toward the outer end of the ballot or frameAas theframeorballot is drawn eutot the vote-recording machine. The movement ofthis slide P toward the outer end of the frame or ballot causes the rodsL to be moved endwise and toward the ends of the plates or slides F, soas to move them back to their normal position as the ballot is withdrawnfrom the vote-recording machine, and thus destroy the mechanical ballot.If this mechanical ballot were inspected immediately after beingwithdrawn from the v0te-record ing machine, it would show nothing toindicate how the voter had voted.

Placed upon the top of the part D and bottom of the part C, either alongtheir outer edges or near the centers, as may be pre ferred, are theperforated movable slides R, and which have an opening corresponding toeach name of the candidate to be voted for. These slides R may either bemoved endwise by means of a spring, which is applied to their innerends, or they may be connected to the two portions C D by means of linksS, as may be preferred. These slides R are moved simultaneously by meansof a spring actuated thumb-piece T, which is connected at each oit itsends to the slides R.

When the voter wishes to vote for any one or more candidates,he movesthespring-actuated thumbepiece T so as to move the slides R. If theslides R are made to move endwise, they are provided with perforationsto correspond with the perforations G; but if slides are used which areconnected by means ot' the linksSthe slides are not provided withperfor-ations, but simply cover the perforations G for the purpose ofhiding the vote.

When a voter wishes to vote lor any one or more candidates, he operatesthe spring-actuated thumb-piece T so as to force the slides R from overthe perforations G, and then he forces the needle or punch Il throughthe perforation G opposite the names of the candidates for whom hewishes to vote. "When he releases the thumb-piece T, the slides R moveback over the perforation G, so as to hide the vote from the judges orinspectors ot election, who have to take the ballot and insertit in thevote-recording machine for the purpose of having the vote registered.

Upon the slides R, near their ends, are formed suitable projections U,which strike against corresponding rods G inside oi the vote-recordingmachine, and thus cause the slides R to move from over and under thepertoratious G, and thus allow the verticallymoving rods in thevoterecording machine to pass through the perforations to record thevote.

From the above it will be seen that a purely mechanical ballot is formedand which, when inserted into the vote-recording machine, allows thevote for every different candidate to be registered. XVhere no vote hasbeen given for any of the candidates, the plates or slides F have notbeen moved so as to uncover the perforations G, and hence noverticallyfmoving rods in the vote-recording machine can pass throughthe perforations G, because they are covered by the ends of the platesor slides F. In case a voter is not able to read or to make out thenames of the dierent candidates he has but to apply to the judges orinspectors oi' election for information as to where the names of thediiferent ones are located upon the ballot, and then he moves the IOOIIO

slide R, so as to expose all of the perforations G, and then forces theneedle or punch through the perforations opposite the name of thecandidate for whom he wishes to vote. There will be any desired numberof these ballots at each voting precinct, so that any number of voterscan be secretly preparing their bal lots at the same time, and after avoter has prepared his ballot the slides R cover the perforations G, sothat the judges of election -cannot see who have been voted for as theballot is handed to them to be inserted into the vote-recording machine.

In order to prevent t-he necessity of the illiterate voters having tocall upon the judges or inspectors of election for information, thedifferent political parties may use different colors to indicate theirvarious candidates, and thus an illiterate voter wishing to vote for thecandidates of any one party has but to follow the color of that party todo so.

If it is not desired to use the slides or plates F, small endwise-movingrods will be used, and which will be inserted through opposite edges ofthe ballot or frame A, and which by being forced inward or drawn outwardwill expose the corresponding perforations G or form openings, throughwhich the verticallymoving rods of the vote-recording machine will pass.

Each one of the mechanical ballots will be sufficiently long to allowthe names of all of the candidates nominated to be placed upon it, andopposite each candidates name will be a perforation G, as alreadydescribed. The bottom of the lower portion of the frame or ballot iscomposed of open-work, and when a printed ballot .is to be voted it isplaced face downward in this lower portion of the frame or ballot, sothat by turning the frame or mechanical ballot over the printed namesupon the paper can be'seen. The voter then perforates the printed ballotby thrusting the needle through the perforations G from this lower side.As shown, the perforated slides R under the lower side of the ballotcorrespond to those upon the upper side, and the pairs of slides areconnected so as to4 move simultaneously and cover the perforations bothabove and below the ballot, so that no one can see for whom the voterhas voted should the ballot be turned upside down. The lower slides areconnected at their inner ends by the cross-bar S', and connected to thisbar S is a turned-up rod T, which extends through an opening in thehandle and connects with the thumb-piece. Vhen the thumb-piece is drawnbackward to operate the slides upon the top of the ballot, the slidesunderneath are operated at the Sametime. When the thumb-piece is moved,all of the perforations are uncovered or covered at the same time. Whenthe thumb-piece is forced forward by its spring, the upper portion ofthe ballot can be freely raised, as shown in Fig. 3; but when thethumb-piece is drawn backward the upper slides R extend across thehinge, and

hence this upper part will be locked in place while the openings areuncovered for the purpose of allowing the needle to be forced throughthem. If so desired, a lock may be applied to this ballot, so as to lockthis upper portion down in place after the ballot has once beeninserted.

In Fig. 5 is shown a machine in which this mechanical ballot andballot-holder are used. ln this machine are a number of verticallymovingrods C', which correspond in number to the perforations G, so that whenthe mechanical ballot and ballot-holder are inserted into the machinethrough a suitable slot or slots prepared therefor, and when the rods Care allowed to drop or descend from their own gravity when thecrank-shaft D is operated, those rods C which are above thoseperforations G through which the needle has been thrust will passthrough the mechanical ballot, as shown, for the purpose of operatingcorresponding registering mechanisms, while those rods which are justabove the holes G through which the needle has not been thrust remainup, as shown. Those rods which do not pass through strike on the tops ofthe ends of the plates F, which cover the perforations, and hence candescend no farther. If a blank or printed ballot is to be voted, therewill be no necessity for using the plates F; but the concealing-slides Rwill be used. Vhere the ballot has not been perforated, the rods C willrest upon its top, while those rods above the perforations will passthrough. No recording mechanisms and no complete vote-recording machineare here shown, because they form subjects of other applications, andhence need not be more fully described in this application.

When the mechanical ballot or ballot-holder is forced into the machine,as shown in Fig. 5, the projections U strike against rods G before theballot is fully inserted, and then the continued movement of the ballotcauses these projections U to force the concealingslides R backward andsidewise into the position shown in dotted lines, as shown in Fig. l,thus exposing all of the perforations G. When the crank-shaft D isturned, after the rods C G have been allowed to descend for the purposeof recording the vote, they will all be raised to their full height whenthe crank is turned up, and when the rods G are raised from in front ofthe projections U the spring-actuated thumb-piece T instantly returnsthe concealing-slides R to position over the perforations G, so that ifthe crank is again operated the rods will only descend upon the tops ofthe slides R and projections U, and thus no vote can be recorded morethan once withoutfirst withdrawing the ballot and ballot-holder from themachine to a greater or less distance, and this would requirepreconcerted fraud upon the parts of the judges or inspectors ofelection.

The slot in the end of the machine is sufficiently wide to allow themechanical ballot or IOO IIO

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ballot-holder to have a slight vertical movement. WVhen the ballot isinserted into the machine, the projection Q strikes against the latch orstrip and raises it; but when the ballot is being withdrawn thisprojection Q strikes the inner side ot' the stop or latch, and as theoutward movement of the ballot continues the slide P is moved, throughits projections Q, sufiiciently far to draw the end- Wise-movin g rodsor slides L endwise and sidewise, so as to force all of the slides Fback into position over the projections G, and thus leave the ballot inposition, ready for another voter.

Each of the perforations G in the ballot, and each of the rods C in themachine are given a corresponding number, so that when any one of therods operates a registering mechanism it is at once known for whom thevotes were cast when the election is over and the vote-recording machineis opened.

Should any one voter wish to vote for any person whose name does notappear upon the ballot, he can have the judges of election write thatname upon all of the ballots, and hence every vote cast for this personwill be duly recorded.

For the purpose of inserting names of: all candidates forwhom voters maywish to vote and who were nominated on the day of election or after theballots were all prepared, there areleft blank spaces upon the ballot,and in which spaces the names of these candidates can be written.

In order to count the blank perforated ballots which have been cast atan election for any purpose, each paper ballot has two perforationsforced through it by pointed rods placed in the machine for thispurpose, and which rods also operate registering mechanisms of their ownfor the purpose of counting the whole number of ballots cast. These twopunched holes serve as a starting-point in counting the votes for thedifferent candidates. In counting the ballots the blank perforatedpieces of paper are laid alongside of. the mechanical ballot orballot-holder, andthe perforations in the paper ballot will thencorrespond with the names upon the mechanical ballot in which the ballotwas when it was perforated.

For the purpose of making absolutely sure in regard to the accuratecount of the ballots cast, the ballot-holder will be passed into twoseparate ballot-recording machines, and if both of these machines tallyit will be seen that the count is absolutely correct. If two machinesare used, the catch R in Fig. 5 maybe left otl" of the first machine.There are no slides used in connection with the two holes orperforations which are used as startingpoints in counting the votes forthe different candidates, as above described, and through which theperforating-rods in the vote-recording machine are made to pass.

Having thus described my invention, I claim l. A mechanical ballot orballot-holder having a series ot' perforations, in combination with acorresponding series of slides for covering the perforations, and aneedle or rod for forcing the ends of the slides back from over theperforations, substantially as specified.

2. A mechanical ballot or ballot-holder having a series of perforations,in combination with a corresponding series of slides, a needle or rodfor moving the slides endwise away from the perforations, and movablerods for moving the slides back over the perforations, substantially asshown.

3. A mechanical ballot or ballot-holder provided with a series ofperforations, in combination with a corresponding series of slides forcovering the perforations, a needle or rod for forcing the slides awayfrom the perforations, movable rodsfor returning the slides to position,anda slide for engaging the rods and moving them as the ballot iswithdrawn from the vote-recording machine, substantially as described.

4. rlhe combination, in a mechanical ballotl or ballot-holder providedwith a series of perforations, of a pin or rod for passing through saidperforations, concealing-slides for exposing or concealing theperforations, and an automatically-acting thumb-piece connected totheslides, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of a mechanical ballot or ballot-holder provided witha series of perfoi-ations, and automatically-acting slides for coveringthe perforations and provided with projections U, with a vote-recordingmachine provided with vertically-moving rods G for engaging with theprojections and moving the slides l'rom over the perforations,substantially as shown.

G. The combination of a mechanical ballot or ballot-holder provided witha series of perforations, slides for covering the perforations,locking-plates for holding the slides when moved back, sliding rods forraising the locking-plates and moving the slides back over theperforations, and a needle or rod for passing through the perforations,substantially as described.

7. The combination ol' the mechanical ballot or ballot-holder providedwith a series of perforations, slides for covering the perforations,locking-plates for holding the slides when moved back, sliding rods foroperating both the locking-plates and the slides, the slide P, providedwith a projection Q,a voterecording machine provided withverticallymoving rods for passing through the perforations, and a catchto engage with the projection Q, as the ballot is withdrawn,substantially as specified.

8, The combination, in a mechanical ballot or ballot-holder providedwith a series of perforations, of the concealing-slides applied to bothsides of the ballot, suitable connections for causing them all to movesimultaneously, and a spring-actuated thu mb-piece for operating them,substantially as shown.

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- perforations and adapted to receive an im-` perforate ballot, wherebythe ballot is perfoiated through the said perforations, substantially asdescribed.

l0. A ballot-holder provided with a series of perforations and spacesfor the names of candidates opposite the said perforations, the saidholder adapted to receive an iinperforate ballot, whereby the ballot canbe perforated through the said perforations, substantially as set forth.

1l. The combination, with a ballot-holder provided with perforations andadapted to receive an imperforate ballot, of an imperforate ballotplaced in the said holder and provided with spaces for the names ofcandidates opposite the said perforations in the holder, whereby theballot can be perforated through the said perforations in theballotholder and opposite the said names, substantially as set forth.

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l2. A ballot-holder provided with perforations and formed of two parts,whereby it is adapted to receive an imperforate ballot, and whereby theballot can be perforated through the said perforations, substantially asspecified.

13. A ballot-holder composed of two parts and adapted to receive animperforate ballot betweenthem, each part of the said holder beingprovided with perforations, whereby the ballot can be perforatedthrough` the said perforations from either side of the ballotholder,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

K. DOUGrAN.

Witnesses:

F. A. LEHMANN, J. M. NEsBrr.

